Monday, November 25, 2013

Today's Top 10... and yes, that's Judi Dench.

Today’s Top 10

There
are very few black gay artists who want to talk about their artistic
process from a place of truth.I’ve seen several fakers, who are really only fakers because they
lack the knowledge to converse about much beyond riffs, vocal “bestiality”,
and that Beyonce Knowles-Carter person.I cannot dumb-it-down to talk about art.I will not.For this reason, I will always
support black gay artists who speak the truth.[Learn about my friend Michael R. Jackson]

Burping
up Wendy’s is one of my favorite emotions.

I used
to hear “I won’t be able to make it to your party if Larry is coming” from
many dear friends.Recently,
I think I’ve done quite well at getting my name put on just the right
people’s lips.Long Live
2013!!I’m going to miss her
when she’s gone.(The year,
not the poverty)

An
unanswered email shows no home training.An unanswered text is actually seen by the person you
are ignoring in most cases.As is the unanswered Facebook message.My ability not to call you out by first and last name
when all I’m trying to do is schedule dinner for two supposed old friends
to catch up, is called restraint.#AlmaCheckYourInBox

A few
years ago, I met and worked with a woman named Raena White, who looked me
and a fellow cast mate in the eye and said “I don’t believe in gay.I mean, you must know that what
you’re doing is wrong, right?”We ceased speaking for the remainder of the contract.We ceased speaking for the
remainder of our unfortunately shared time on this planet.Currently, she is a “singer” about
town with a huge gay following, who has no idea she doesn’t actually
believe in them (like we are Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy).Sometimes I feel like I am the
only one who’s stood his ground and denounced her any time her name has
come up.

If you
have to call it ArtPop, it’s neither.

I’m
learning a great deal about Fleetwood Mac over the last day or so.That was a band.A team.Creating that much art in such close proximity to that
much emotion, and having it truly stand the test of time as some of the
best music of the last 40 years, is truly a testament.I couldn’t imagine what would come
out of me each day at work, if that much emotionally scarred paperwork
were left in the conference room.

I talk
about both of them enough, but I don’t know if you know this.The things I’ve learned in this
life from Geraldine and Big James have made me who I am today.

Geraldine
taught me, and continues to teach me, how to cook.Like a science.She is the reason I wanted to
learn how to play that weird box with the 88 keys that made a noise
called music.

Big
James taught me that we were going to change one of the traditional
meanings of our name.One of
the meanings of “James”, I believe in some sort of religious setting, was
“one who follows” (albeit with a capital “F”).He taught me at a very young age that it was going to
be very important for me to “Lead”.I think of that every day.He taught/teaches me to be the best at whatever it is that I want
to do.And not best meaning
“better than someone else”.Best meaning, be the best that you can be…for you…with what you
have.If you think it’s the best, then it is.He taught me that it’s more
important what I think about it, than what anyone else does.I think that’s cool.And I get it now.

Shonda
Rhimes talks too fast.

I’ve
been spending Sunday in the exact way that I’ve wanted to spend Sunday
over the last few months.There have been naps, and food, and music history, and foliage, and
Greek food, and naps, and my cell phone has died (re: DNR), and drives,
and mix tapes, and naps, and discussing what you want out of where you are
heading, and where you’re heading because of what you want, and cooking,
and a dog, and cats, and advice, and art.And it is for me.It may not be for you.If you hear about it and you don’t run away, I thank you.I love hearing what is for you
just as much.Tell me about
your Sunday.

A BONUS…..

When
you get a text or an email or a phone call from Elliot Roth saying “You
need to listen to this –“, You stop what you are doing and follow the
directions of whatever is on the other side of that hyphen.

Also, I am thrilled to take the end of the year and dedicate it to work, reflecting, and getting back to my OWN (both the channel and me). But here's two little things.... (1) Hey Boston, what if I came to you in February? We're working that out. Would you come? And y'all... This thing that happened below changes me every time I get to sing it. If you don't follow her, you're rude. She'll be doing a show of her own at Joe's Pub in early February. And She and I are working on something together for March. Stay tuned, NYC. (2) Would you come to "The Gospel of Joni"?